A founder note: why Saint Lucia remains at the heart of BOOD

When people discover BOOD, they often meet us through a jar of sea moss gel or a Ginger Power Shot. But the story behind those products began long before there was a brand, a website or even a name.

It begins with Saint Lucia, where Jon’s family roots run deep, and with the traditions they carried into everyday life here in the UK.

Seeing Saint Lucia for myself

I first visited Saint Lucia with Jon in 2017. Meeting his family and seeing the place he came from helped me understand the stories I’d heard in a different way.

I remember seeing the Pitons for the first time, the palm trees and the warmth of the people. People would wave to each other as they walked down the road—small moments that stayed with me as much as the views.

There was so much to take in: the beautiful views, riding the bus, spending time at Rodney Bay and Pigeon Point, and experiencing Saint Lucia Carnival with its gorgeous costumes and happiness all around. What stayed with me most was the atmosphere—the warmth, the sense of community and the joy. It helped me understand why Saint Lucia meant so much to Jon, and it began to mean something special to me too.

I was also drawn to the pace of life I experienced. There was a calmness that felt grounding, and I noticed how naturally people used locally grown ingredients in everyday life. I saw turmeric being prepared, and leaves and other ingredients drying in the sun. Being there brought the things I’d heard about into focus: the time, knowledge and care that went into preparing them.

That visit stayed with me. Years later, when we were building BOOD, Saint Lucia was already part of Jon’s life and part of the inspiration we shared.

The knowledge passed through family

Jon’s grandmother, Grace, was born in Saint Lucia. Her life and the family she raised are part of the reason the island means so much to Jon, and why it has come to mean so much to me. Her daughter, Timothea, Jon’s mum, grew up with an approach to food and wellbeing that was woven into daily life.

In Timothea’s kitchen, sea moss sat alongside herbal teas and other ingredients she knew and used. She kept a recipe book, collected ideas and developed recipes of her own. Some knowledge had been passed down; some came from her curiosity and care for the people around her.

Seeing ingredients being prepared in Saint Lucia helped me understand more of the approach Jon had grown up around, and the traditions Timothea continued in her own kitchen.

From Grace to Timothea, more than recipes were passed down. It was a whole way of thinking: paying attention to what you make, sharing what you know and looking after people in the ways you can.

That spirit helped shape BOOD. Our products are made for modern routines, but the inspiration behind them is personal. We want sea moss to feel approachable, enjoyable and easy to make part of your day.

What it means for BOOD today

As BOOD has grown, so have the ways people use our products. Some customers stir sea moss gel into breakfast; others take it straight from the spoon. We love seeing people make it their own.

For us, keeping Saint Lucia at the heart of BOOD means honouring Jon’s family roots and treating those stories with care. It means recognising the people and knowledge that inspired us, and making products we’re proud to share.

Saint Lucia is more than the place where our story began. It remains part of the reason we keep going.

Thank you for being here and for allowing us to share a little more of the story behind BOOD.

Has a recipe, ingredient or family tradition stayed with you over the years? We’d love to hear about it.

Christina
Co-founder, BOOD